Pioneering in NPCC is an activity where cadets apply their knowledge of Knots and Lashings in the real world context. Cadets use ropes, wooden spars and appropriate equipment joined by lashings and knots to create a structure and gadgets. It teaches cadets to use their creativity, teamwork and problem solving skills when designing structures. While it is usually an outdoor activity, it can be a challenging and fun activity indoors too.
Practicality:
Is effective and feasible?
Is your equipment in good condition and suitable for your project?
Stability: Will collapse in the outdoors?
Safety: Whether it poses as a hazard for the users
No protruding part/poles?
No loose lines
Position/direction of guylines should not be in the passage way
No sharp edges
Check all equipment to ensure they are in good working condition.
Simplicity
A design that can be easily built
Tidiness of work
Working ends of the rope tucked in neatly.
Ropes wrapped neatly.
Element of fun and creativity
Adapted from: https://www.britishscoutingoverseas.org.uk/resources/training/skills-projects.pdf and
Planning and decision-making skills for construction of pioneering structure.
Skills in knots and lashings
Application of pioneering concepts
Assess a structure in terms of:
Practicality
Stability
Safety
A framework forms the basic unit for any form of pioneering structures. These structures, once created, enable us to improvise upon them by adding on reinforcement and features to complete the final structure. Below are some examples of basic structure frameworks:
Constructed by tying 2 poles at an angle either using shear or diagonal lashing
Constructed by tying 3 poles in an A-shape using diagonal lashings
Constructed by tying 4 poles together using diagonal lashing or square lashing
Constructed by tying 3 poles to form a self-standing structure using gyn lashing